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Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene
Crime and disease have increased with every succeeding genera-
tion. Intemperance in eating and drinking, and the indulgence of the
baser passions, have benumbed the nobler faculties of man. Reason,
instead of being the ruler, has come to be the slave of appetite to an
alarming extent. An increasing desire for rich food has been indulged,
until it has become the fashion to crowd all the delicacies possible into
the stomach. Especially at parties of pleasure is the appetite indulged
with but little restraint. Rich dinners and late suppers are served, con-
sisting of highly seasoned meats, with rich sauces, cakes, pies, ices,
tea, coffee, etc. No wonder that, with such a diet, people have sallow
complexions, and suffer untold agonies from dyspepsia.
Against every transgression of the laws of life, nature will utter her
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protest. She bears abuse as long as she can; but finally the retribution
comes, and it falls upon the mental as well as the physical powers. Nor
does it end with the transgressor; the effects of his indulgence are seen
in his offspring, and thus the evil is passed down from generation to
generation.
The youth of today are a sure index to the future of society; and
as we view them, what can we hope for that future? The majority are
fond of amusement and averse to work. They lack moral courage to
deny self and to respond to the claims of duty. They have but little
self-control, and become excited and angry on the slightest occasion.
Very many in every age and station of life are without principle or
conscience; and with their idle, spendthrift habits they are rushing into
vice and are corrupting society, until our world is becoming a second
Sodom. If the appetites and passions were under the control of reason
and religion, society would present a widely different aspect. God
never designed that the present woeful condition of things should exist;
it has been brought about through the gross violation of nature’s laws.
The character is formed, to a great extent, in early years. The habits
then established have more influence than any natural endowment, in
making men either giants or dwarfs in intellect; for the very best talents
may, through wrong habits, become warped and enfeebled. The earlier
in life one contracts hurtful habits, the more firmly will they hold their
victim in slavery, and the more certainly will they lower his standard
of spirituality. On the other hand, if correct and virtuous habits are
formed in youth, they will generally mark the course of the possessor
through life. In most cases, it will be found that those who in later life